Great Central Railway Loughborough Leicestershire 27th December 2018

On a grey winter day BR Standard pacific 70013 Oliver Cromwell has a green on the Section signal as we leave Loughborough with the 14.00 train to Leicester.

Cromwell was only 4 days from withdrawal for its 10 year overhaul but ran beautifully. Although kept spruced up for its last few days it had acquired an authentic "lived-in" patina.

In August 2023 the boiler is still at Tyseley being overhauled but the bottom end is complete. Covid has severely delayed the return but it is hoped to have 70013 back in steam by the end of 2023/early 2024.